Related Articles

If you're planning a trip to the East Coast of the United States, you have an abundance of options for vacation spots. Ski in New Hampshire or Vermont in January, or get a tan in the Florida Keys at the same time of year. Explore history in Philadelphia, see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., or relax on the wide, sandy beaches of North Carolina. These are all great options, but the top choices of travel experts include Charleston, South Carolina; Kennebunkport, Maine; and Amelia Island, Florida.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, was rated as offering the best visitor experience of any city on the East Coast in Travel + Leisure's 2009 World's Best Awards. The charm of the city is apparent as soon as you cross the Ashley River or Cooper River and enter its historic downtown. Choose a hotel within walking distance of sites like the City Market, where you'll find jewelry, local food and handmade sweetgrass baskets, the colorful houses called Rainbow Row or the Battery, where you can walk along the bay. Restaurants are abundant and varied here, but the specialty is the traditional Lowcountry cuisine. See Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, or tour a nearby plantation like Middleton Place or Boone Hall.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Forbes Magazine names Kennebunkport, Maine, as one of its ultimate vacation spots in the United States. The coastal area is known for its wealthy residents, picturesque views, and the quaint shopping and dining area of Dock Square. Spend an afternoon on the beach with its cool Atlantic waters, sign up for a whale watching expedition or, after a few lobster rolls and fried clams, charter a sailboat to explore Cape Porpoise. While the area is busiest and most popular in summer, Kennebunkport is a year-round community that offers less expensive lodging and shopping choices in the winter.

Amelia Island, Florida

One of the best islands in North America is Amelia Island, Florida, according to the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. Located just off the coast in the northeast corner of the state, the resort town has 13 miles of beaches bordered by steep sand dunes and plenty of upscale hotels and resorts, as well as quaint bed and breakfasts. Wander through Fernandina Beach, which has 50 blocks of historic buildings, visit the Civil War-era Fort Clinch or play some of 117 holes of golf on the island. Plan your trip around one of the many festivals held on Amelia Island, like the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in May or the Jazz Fest in November.

Resources

About the Author

Ashley Talley has been a professional writer for more than 10 years, specializing in travel and health. Her work has been published in "Coastal Living" magazine, "Wrightsville Beach Magazine" and "Choice," an anthology praised by "Vanity Fair" and the "LA Times." She graduated from Brown University with honors and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of North Carolina.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Photo Credits

Slider Credits

Cite this ArticleA tool to create a citation to reference this article Cite this Article

Choose Citation Style

Talley, Ashley. "Best Places to Vacation on the East Coast of the U.S.A." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/places-vacation-east-coast-usa-14599.html. 06 December 2017.

Talley, Ashley. (2017, December 06). Best Places to Vacation on the East Coast of the U.S.A. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/places-vacation-east-coast-usa-14599.html

Talley, Ashley. "Best Places to Vacation on the East Coast of the U.S.A." last modified December 06, 2017. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/places-vacation-east-coast-usa-14599.html

Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.